How to Make Mulch Dye

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How to Make Mulch Dye

Overview

Dye mulch a range of colors, including shades of gold, red, brown and black, when you make mulch dye. Colored mulches have a range of uses, beyond decorative, including absorbing the sun to heat animal pens. Colored mulches, through reflective properties, even benefit how plants grow, taste and smell, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Step 1

Put on old clothing and garden gloves to protect clothing and hands from the semi-permanent dye.

Step 2

Measure 16 oz. of colorant into a 5-gallon bucket. Pour 1 1/2 gallons of clean water into the bucket. Follow specific mixing ingredients included with your colorant; most mulch colorants specify similar instructions. Mix the colorant and water with a paint stirrer to make the dye.

Step 3

Pour the mixture into a garden sprayer or other container used to apply the solution.

Things You'll Need

Mulch colorant

Bucket

Paint stirrer

Garden sprayer

Gloves

References

Earth Shades: FAQ

PineStrawDirect.com: Mulch Dyes

Nature's Way Resources: Colored Mulch

United States Department of Agriculture: Colored Mulch Can Help Cotton, Carrots--and Basil, Too

Keywords:
make mulch dye, mulch colorant, dying mulch

About this Author

Sommer Sharon has a bachelor's degree in IT/Web management from the University of Phoenix and owns a Web consulting business. With more than 12 years of experience in the publishing industry, her work has included "Better Homes and Gardens," "Ladies' Home Journal," "MORE," "Country Home," "Midwest Living," and "American Baby." Sharon now contributes her editorial background by writing for several Internet publications.